Condos or Townhomes on James Island, SC; Which to Choose?

Category : Region II

Condos or Townhomes on James Island, SC; Which to Choose?

James Island is a popular spot for many when making a condominium or townhouse purchase.  With so many communities to choose from, it can be difficult making a decision on which might be the best fit for you.  With James Island, it’s all about location.  With close proximity to downtown Charleston, and being right down the street from Folly Beach, it is a favorite location for many.  A lot of the CofC students (College of Charleston) and the MUSC students (Medical University of South Carolina) like the location of James Island, since the commute is normally 10 minutes or less.  So lets take a look at a few of the differences between condominiums and townhouses, and try to determine what might be the best fit for you.

First of all, whether you’re choosing a townhouse or a condo depends on your lifestyle.  If you are looking for the “resort lifestyle” so to speak, then condos might be the best fit for you.  The reason I say this is because swimming pools, cabanas, tennis courts, gated communities, and lawn care included are all typical benefits of living in a condo.  If you’re the type of person that has a long day at school or work, and doesn’t want to spend a lot of time on maintenance or landscaping, then a condo may be a great choice for you.  Be sure to know that when living in a condominium, you actually own a percentage of the whole condominium community.  If there are 100 condos, and you own one, you own 1% of the community.  There are covenants and restrictions set in place (rules or guidelines), that you must obey and are enforced.  Typically, there are regime fees paid by the condo owners (you) that can amount to 0+ a month!  These are the fees that pay for the use of the cabana, the pool, tennis courts, landscaping and maintenance, and any entry gate.  Also included is hazard insurance for the exterior of the condo (normally from the drywall, out), exterior maintenance such as pressure washing, roof repair, siding repair, as well as the sidewalks and walkways around your condo.  Some condo communities also have water usage included.  So condominiums will be more expensive to live in per month, on a whole, but this may be beneficial for you if you like all of those extras listed above.

Townhouses or townhomes are a little different.  While sometimes similar in size and appearance to condos, townhouses do not have regime fees.  You actually own the townhouse outright, and you are not a part of any regime.  Typically, there aren’t any swimming pools, tennis courts, cabanas, or lawn service.  This means you take care of your own exterior hazard insurance, your own water, and if the roof needs repair- that is your responsibility.  You maintain the area around your townhouse, which means all of the landscaping on your property, and any gardening you wish to do.  There are no covenants and restrictions so normally you are also able to park your boat on the property, or do any modifications/changes to your townhouse without having to submit a written request asking permission to do so.  A lot of people like this freedom, and feel they shouldn’t have to ask for permission to make changes to something they own (like paining).  However; the condominium people feel that this may affect the property values negatively if there are changes made that are not in the best interest of the community.  Take note that if there is no regime with covenants and restrictions, any homeowner may be a little more careless about having cars parked in yards, or stained driveways, or boats parked on the grass on cinder blocks (you get my point).  There is no property management company to enforce the rules of the community as in a condo regime.  The biggest positive I see the townhouse having vs. the condo is there are no regime fee’s to pay per month.  If a similar condo of the same size has a 0 a month regime fee, then you may be able to afford a more attractive townhome since you will not be paying any regime fee’s per month.  Also note that when there is a down real estate market or economy- the townhomes usually sell better than condos.  For example:  One townhome selling at 100K, and one condo selling at 100K with a monthly 0 regime fee.  That 0 a month regime fee is tough to chew on for someone qualifying for a 100K place to live.

So there you have it, a minor breakdown of the differences between condos and townhomes.  Like I mentioned, the choice is yours depending on your lifestyle.  Be sure to take note of location obviously when choosing, but also find out if a condominium community is in litigation.  On James Island alone, there are a few communities that are under litigation (a lawsuit), where the owners have sued for a specific reason.  Normally, the lawsuit is for defective workmanship of the condo buildings, or something similar.  VERY IMPORTANT:  Which means if you are a seller…drum roll please…you have to sell your condo as cash only.  A buyer will not be able to purchase a condo when it is under litigation, because the banks will not fund a loan when in this situation.  So be careful when choosing!

Work with a qualified, dedicated agent for your James Island SC real estate purchase. Find the ideal Charleston SC condo at www.BuyingCharlestonRealEstate.com.


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Mystery of Hamilton Island

Category : Region I

Mystery of Hamilton Island

An eagle took off in flight from the cliff top, screeching as it
rose, soaring up high in the air, swooping down again several miles
along, crossing the tree tops of a forest. It landed right in the
middle of a clearing where two young girls were sitting together eating by a running stream. The eldest, Lilian, who was 10 years old, threw some bread down for it, and they both watched it pecking it up hungrily as they finished their supper. Rosanna, three years younger, cleared the plates away.
Night was beginning to fall. The sky glowed with warm yellow and orange rays, making the setting sun awesome.
They curled up in a blanket and settled down to sleep. The creatures of the forest began to gather around them, and also began to settle down
.The morning seemed to come quickly.Rosanna, seven years old, was the first to stir. She was awoken by the song of a thrush in the nearby hedge. She sat up, looked around and stretched. Her long black hair looked lovely and silky .She shook her sister. Lilian, who was two years older, sat up and looked around. The
whole forest of animals had congregated all around them as usual. The two sisters grinned at each other. “They are our friends”, Lilian
laughed, brushing her beautiful blond hair out of her eyes with her
hands. As the girls had breakfast, a small handful of berries, nuts and an apple each, the animals slowly went their different ways to look for their own food. The girls, although young, were quite used to sleeping away from home out in the forest. Their father neverworried, as he knew that the girls would come to no harm. There was one instance when they had gone further into the forest, one moonless night. An Angel had appeared and warned them, showing them the steep cliff that they would have fallen from if they had continued the path.
They were as different as chalk and cheese but had the same gentle nature. People who knew them called them Snow White and Rose Red. These were only pet-names that their Father had started. They made their way back toward the mansion, their home.It was mid-morning and the whole Island Paradise was beginning to stir now. With the weekend over, Hamilton Island would be ready for more visitors. They saw Eddie Barlow, the park ranger. They greeted him with smiles, waving to him. “You’re very dedicated to your job”, said Lilian, “getting up an hour before you’re due to start.” He smiled. “YES – I don’t know why – I only work here for peanuts.” “Oh don’t you work for money then?” asked Rosanna. “Silly girl”, laughed Lilian, “it means that the money he gets is not as much as he would like.”"Well the money is good – I just meant that after paying all the bills out for the family, it leaves me with hardly any”, he replied laughing. “You see, he was just joking” said Lilian as they went on their way.
In the year 2080 (when the world was so built upon and barren), this little Island (near to England) was one of the last beautiful and green places that still existed. Years ago it had been known as the Isle of Wight. But in the year 2063 a volcano appeared suddenly and erupted, splitting the whole island into three parts. In 2064 it erupted again, blasting out its deadly lava, and the two smaller parts sank beneath the waves of the sea.
It was the year 2069 when a Government scientist, Sir Raymond Hamilton, bought the Island, which by now was safe again due to the fact the volcano was now dead. He had cultivated and maintained the Island into a paradise haven theme park, keeping one area for his private research. Offically his work was to study alien phenomena, life forms and D.N.A. (human or alien). He was also working on a secret project: a machine that was capable of wormholing through to a world in a paralleluniverse.
“This has got to be kept secret, till l know more”, he ordered the
government. It was when the two girls set off again to the solitude of the great forest, a week later, that the adventure started. It must have been two in the morning when Rosanna woke to hear a very faint humming sound. The animals seemed restless and disturbed. A great light exploded behind the trees somewhere about a
half-mile or less away, and there was a tremendous cracking sound. The animals all ran away in fear. The noise woke
Lilian.”What’s happened?” she asked, looking around. “Something has arrived from beyond space and time”, said Rosanna mysteriously. Lilian turn to look at her sister, surprised at the way she had spoken.Rosanna had a look of discernment in her eyes – it was a gift that she had. She had been right in her discernment before. “What do you mean Rose?” asked Lilian.
Rosanna didn’t reply Instead she got to her feet, and before Lilian
could stop her she darted off into the forest, in the direction of the
glow, behind the trees. As Rosanna got nearer, the strange humming grew louder and the atmosphere became hot and moist.
Lilian was following close behind, watching, concerned at what was happening. She stopped to bend a branch back so she could continue along the path, when she suddenly realised Rosanna had disappeared. Being alone in the forest had never bothered her before, but in these strange circumstances she became
fearful.Where was she? Where had she gone?
“Rosanna – where are you?” she called softly, not wanting to make too muchnoise. When there was no answer, she frantically began searching allaround, her heart in her mouth. Suddenly, before she could utter a word, she was pulled down behind a bush.
“SSSSHHHHH!” Rosanna put a finger to her lips and she silently pointed aheadto a thick tree. Together in the moonlight, they saw a young boy stepout from it, with strange, pointed, larger-than-average ears.He looked all around, as if he had never seen a forest before. An Owl hooted from a tall tree. The boy hooted back.
The owl flew away as the boy went to the tree and tried to climb it.
He got right up to the first branch and struggled to climb past
it.It seemed to the children that he didn’t grip the branch properly,
because suddenly his hand slipped from the branch and he fell. The dark still night was pierced by his loud shriek and then the terrible thud of him hitting the ground. Both girls gasped in shock and horror. Rosanna stood up. “He has fallen.” she whispered. “We must help him.” They ran to where he lay. Rosanna slowly sat down beside the boy. “Is he dead?” asked Lilian. “No, he is all right.” replied Rosanna. “He has a pulse.”
“What shall we do?” She looked at Lilian with concern. “Don’t move him,” advised Lilian. “He may be hurt inside. I will give him some of this: it is smelling salts. I always keep the bottle in my purse to remind me of Mother before she died.”
She opened the bottle and held it under the nose of the boy. He began to stir. As he gained conciousness, he reached up toward Rosanna and put his hand on her head. Lilian didn’t seem to notice.. The boy spoke to her in a strange language that she had never heard before, but she understood what he said. “Do not be afraid, Rosanna. I will not harm you.” “How do you know
my name?” she asked him.
He didn’t reply.
“He is trying to tell us something”, said Lilian. “l wonder what it is.” “He is telling us not to be afraid”, Rosanna told her, amazed that she somehow could understand .”How do you know that?” Lilian said in disbelief. “You are making it up.”
“No I am not – truly that’s what he said.” She turned back to him and spoke. “Can you make my sister understand you? She doesn’t believe that l understand what are saying.”
Turak beckoned. “Let her come.” Rosanna turned to her sister. “Come on Lilian, he wants to help you understand him. Let him touch you.” Lilian nervously stepped forward and sat the other side of the boy. “Relax and let him touch your head.”
Slowly Lilian bent her head and Turak placed his hand on it. She felt a slight buzz and it relaxed her, then she felt her mind expand slightly but nothing more. It felt weird but pleasant.
She looked at Turak and gasped. “How did you do that? How is it that I can now understand you?” Turak seemed to laugh, although his mouth never moved. “Mind probe. I have gently placed new data into your mind. It is a gift from me. l come from a place where my people do this almost every day.” “How can you do it just by touching?” Lilian asked. Turak looked at them with such gentleness. “My people have evolved from a higher dimension
universe parallel to this universe, and the twin star of this planet,
called Uranda.”"The girls looked at Turak, trying to take all this in. Rosanna asked: “Why are you here?” Turak sighed deeply then said sadly: “My people are a race who believe in peace We don’t fight unless we must, and our whole lives are to promote harmony.
I came here as our planet lies in danger of destruction.
Zoltan is an evil baron who is against this promotion. He attacked my world and tried to destroy me.
I was sent here for my protection until it is safe for my return.”
“He is a Prince yet to be crowned”, a voice said from behind them.
The girls were quite startled at this and gasped, turning to look as an older man with the same strange looking ears came out chuckling from behind the trees.
“Drazal is my adviser”, said Turak, without even turning his head. “He was to stay with me here until l was made safe, but now he can return to my guardian and confirm my safety.”
“Where is your space craft?” asked Rosanna. “I have not a craft, but came by a teleport bridge”, he replied. Then, seeing their puzzled faces, he
laughed. “Come, we will walk Drazal back and l will show you.”


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Conducting Tourism Awareness on Karkar Island, Papua New Guinea

Category : Region I

Conducting Tourism Awareness on Karkar Island, Papua New Guinea

On the clear bright morning of Friday 8th May 2009 twelve of us, all 3rd year degree tourism and hospitality management students of Divine Word University, were on the ‘Elly 2′ to Karkar Island.

The ‘Elly 2′ is a 23 feet and 225 horse powered speed boat owned by the Goodyear family. 3rd year student Graham Paulus from the highlands and I stood at the boat’s bow, thrilled with excitement as our boat soared over the waves aimed towards the island.

The sea was calm as we sped past our other group of classmates who had travelled earlier for almost two hours on MV Pundock. We felt good as we overtook them with speed and waved at them, seeing disappointment on their faces.

After about 45 minutes of speed boat travel we docked on the north black sandy shores of Biabi. The receding sunset’s glow sparkled on the white crest of waves as they crashed onto the beach. It was a welcoming moment for us as we stood before the island for the first time.

We stepped off the boat and unloaded our cargos to our lecturer, Elizabeth Goodyear’s house which was only a couple of meters in from the shoreline. The Goodyear’s Biabi compound had a nice backyard lawn surrounded by tropical palms and ferns. It had a pond in the middle where one could see live prawns and fish under the cover of white water lilies. If one looked intently, one could spot the watchful eyes of sleepless toads and green frogs camouflaged under the lily leaves and pond rocks.

A pathway led from the pond to a small European style cottage owned by the Goodyear family on Karkar Island. The cottage front was decorated by a sculpture of a semi-nude woman in toga trying to fetch water from a gourd-like bottle. Seeing the sculpture reminded me of the famous sculptor Michelangelo, whose artworks represent the renaissance sculptures of the human body.

At the cottage our lecturer’s mum Singaok warmly welcomed us and carried our cargo into the house. While waiting for the driver who didn’t turn up to drive us to Kavailo Primary School, we visited the copra dryer where the Goodyear family bought cocoa from the local farmers earning them pocket money. Karkar Island is renowned for producing 65 percent of Madang’s total copra production.

It was past 2pm when the driver drove in on a Land Cruiser. Our lecturer swapped with the driver and drove us up a muddy and rough road to Kavailo Primary School. I admired my lecturer as it was my first time to experience skilful driving by a female driver. The Kavailo Primary School is situated somewhere close to the base of the volcanic mountain that towers over the island. We alighted from the vehicle and set up camp in the classrooms where we spent our three nights on the island. We were told that the former PNGDF army general Jerry Singirok attended this school.

The evening was cast with lights from the reflection of stars on the ocean. It was mesmerising as it took our breaths away. It was the weekend of Mothers’ Day and all this brought fresh recollections of our wonderful mothers as each of us sat gazing into the night. We did our own cooking with the rations we brought.

On Saturday 9th May we had two separate sessions in different locations. The first session started when we introduced the ecotourism concept to the students and highlighted to them the benefits and the negative impacts on the host communities. We further emphasised to them the importance of conserving the environment and maintaining our cultures through sustainable approaches and one of the ways this could be achieved was through ‘ecotourism’.

We presented the first session using short video footages, drama presentations and a question-and-answer session at the end. We concluded the first session by awarding prizes to the students and served light refreshment for lunch. This lasted for three hours.

We began the second session at 3pm on Kavailo’s main village next to the seaside. The presentation theme was based on protecting the coral reefs and was presented by our group on behalf of the Coral Reef Alliance. For us it was important that the Karkar Islanders understood the importance of protecting and sustaining their rich marine life, not just for tourism but for their future generations.

Most of the people on the island attended and a few from the nearby villages and as far away as Wadau came. The people listened attentively to the awareness and participated in the question-and-answer session. Those who correctly answered the questions received small gifts. After the second session the village councillor commented positively on the awareness and stated that it was very informative and interesting for everyone as it engaged the whole community.

The final part of the program ended at 8.30pm in the night with a documentary film titled “Importance of marine life.”

Sunday 10th May was set aside for us to tour the island. Our lecturer Elizabeth kindly drove us around the island. It took us just over four hours including sightseeing stops in between to complete a revolution. The places we visited were Kulili Plantation, Tugutugu Guest House and final stop was at Kulkul Plantation where everyone had an enjoyable afternoon swim in the sea.

The location proved as ideal for a get-away. The lawn was neatly maintained and surrounded by palms, hibiscus and other tropical plants. Situated on the hillside, it provided an excellent view overlooking the sea to the west. Steep braced steps about 30 meters long wound at an angle onto the black sandy beach cove. The students couldn’t resist the temptation to make the most of their time with a swim in the fresh waters of the cove.

Monday 11th May was time to say goodbye and leave Karkar Island. Early in the morning we greeted ‘Tidomlom’ to the school students and bade them farewell. After we have had quick breakfast and cleaned and packed up our things, we stood at the school assembly ground. The headmaster together with students and staff expressed their gratitude for our contributions. They wished for such programs to be continued. The school headmaster commended us and wanted the awareness program to happen again which was educational to the people, who lack such information on how they can sustain their environment with the challenges of population growth and climate change.

 

We acknowledge and thank the Headmaster of Kavailo Primary School, the staff and students; the Kavailo village councillor and community for generously allowing us to conduct the awareness program which was a successful one! Special thanks to lecturer Elizabeth Goodyear for arranging our travel. Lastly, to our Dean of Faculty, Dr. Romulo Lindio and HoD, Mr John Imbal and the university for allowing us. This was a good and worthwhile experience for us as future tourism professionals in the development of tourism industry in PNG.

 

Author is a final year(4th) student completing his Bachelors Degree in Tourism & Hospitality Management at Divine Word University, Madang in Papua New Guinea.

 

He is mixed parantaged from Central and Milne Bay provinces of Papua New Guinea. He once attended Moitaka Primary School (1994-1999), did his highschool at Martyrs’ Memmorial School (2000-2003), his secondary at Melbourne Grammar School (2004-2006), also did AgTAFE at McMillan Campus of Melbourne University(2005-2006) and joined Melbourne Grammar School Cadet Corpse (2004-2005). He then moved back to PNG to take up Tourism & Hospitality Management at Divine Word University, Madang (2007-2010) due to having loss his beloved mum.


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Island – Sarah

Category : Region I

Island – Sarah

“Life is a harsh teacher, first comes the test, and then come the lessons. However, if we don’t learn we won’t survive.” That was what Sarah said to me this year, on the 17th of March. It was the greatest day ever, in her life.

                The “Blues” was being played slowly, touching Sarah’s soul. It was a cold lonely night and there were many empty glasses at the bar where she was sitting. I watched her wiping her tears very quickly every time she shed some. She never allowed herself to cry on that night.

                In 1998, Sarah enrolled in the faculty of Arts at Damascus University. In that year, she met me and my roommate George for the first time. Sarah used to be one of the top students in that faculty. She never got less than eighty on any of the courses. Beautiful, smart, and a lovely girl, that’s what she was. There were a lot of good students but she was the only one who had many talents. She was a very good musician; she played piano, guitar, and violin. She was well educated in politics, literature, and science. Every one of the male students fell in love with her but George was the only one whom she had fallen in love with.

                Sarah’s life always seemed perfect. She was the special student whom everyone wanted to be like. She was always the teachers’ pet. She had a very nice love story with a very handsome and smart guy. And even after university her life seemed to be so perfect, and I wouldn’t believe otherwise if I didn’t see her getting drunk in that bar the other night.

                In 2003, Sarah graduated from the university. She had finished her music studying by the time she graduated. She could find a job very quickly in the Canadian embassy. And in the same year she was offered a job in an important company in Canada, however, she turned it down because she was going to get married to George who didn’t want to leave Syria. They got married in 2004. And in 2005 they had their only child, Judy. Sarah couldn’t work for a long time and had to quit most of her activities after she had her baby. However, she was so happy. Actually, she’d never been happier.

                I was always in touch with her and George. At times, I felt that George wasn’t happy like his wife. Sometimes I felt that he was sick of his life. 2006 was the worst year of their marriage. George cheated on Sarah with a woman called Laila. He once came to tell me that he was planning to file for divorce but I thought he was just angry and didn’t mean what he said but actually he did. On a cold night of October 2006 I woke up on the sound of the phone ringing at 2a.m. It was a waiter asking me to come get Sarah out of the bar. On the next day she was a single woman again.

                I had to keep Sarah at my place for 2 months because she wasn’t fine at all. Her eyes were always red and swollen. And I often had to take Judy away from her because every time she carried her she started crying. She got so thin because she refused to eat most of the time. We spent two months that seemed like a lifetime.

                In December, Sarah began to recover, and by the end of the year she was healthy again and got back to work. She moved back to her mother’s house, so she could do all of her activities again while her mother watched Judy. She always visited me and told me how she was doing.

                Sarah was always interested in politics, and she had always wanted to be a diplomat . On the 18th of March she came to me and told me that she applied for a job in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was accepted. In fact I was shocked. I knew she was interested in politics but I never thought she’d do that. However, I felt happy as, for the first time, I knew her life was getting better than it used to be when she got married to George and gave up on her ambitions.

                Sarah left her job at the Canadian embassy and focused on her new job. She got promoted so fast that she became an adviser of the minister in less than six months. In October 2007 she led a delegation to Europe and Canada to work against an American policy that threatened Syria. Her mission succeeded and she was awarded by the President. On the 17th of March, 2008 she was appointed as the Syrian ambassador in Ottawa.

                Life is really strange, and it’s so hard to understand it. I think most of us don’t know what the good or what the bad things are. When we see someone who has a good job and a wonderful family, we think that losing what they have is the end of their life. However, Sarah wouldn’t have succeeded the way she did if George hadn’t left her; she would’ve had an ordinary life. I once asked her if she still hated George and her answer was “I’m grateful for him because when I lost him, I won myself”.

March 2008


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Paramount ’s Kings Island in Ohio – a Great Vacation and Travel Destination

Category : Region I

Paramount ’s Kings Island in Ohio – a Great Vacation and Travel Destination

When you are thinking of vacation destinations think of Paramount Kings Island in Ohio, if you are interested in having lots of fun and excitement. There are some extreme rides that will really give you some thrills and lots of roller coasters. Some thrill seekers will really love the new Firehawk extreme roller coaster as well as Son of Beast, which is a wooden coaster, and then Drop Zone, which is the tallest Gyro Drop in the world.

Kids will really love Nickelodeon Universe where there are more than 18 attractions and rides for fun and excitement. This kid’s area has won lots of awards and it has some of the best Nickelodeon games and attractions worldwide. There are even some great rides for families like water rafting or even flying! There is something for everyone at Kings Island. There are even live shows that are enjoyable for every member of the family. Dora the Explorer Live, island music, and even great ice skating are some of the shows you will find. You will also love Boomerang Bay where you can enjoy the Aussie inspired water park. The water park is large and has plenty of things for the whole family. It is really great to Kings Island one day to enjoy the roller coasters and shows and the next day head to the water park.

Front gate admission prices are .95 for kids three and up and .95 for kids under three and adults over 62. Kids under two are free of charge. If you have a large family the ticket prices can add up quickly, but there are ways to save. Buying your tickets online can save you up to off each ticket and there are other ways to get discounts as well. One thing is for sure and that is the entire family will love Paramount’s Kings Island and it is a perfect vacation for the family no matter what age the kids are. If you live in Ohio you probably already know about this wonderful amusement park and those who don’t know should definitely plan to visit!

There is a website that has great information on USA Vacations and Unique Travel Spots Listed State By State and Season, the website is called: Seasonal Vacation Spots, and can be found at this url:

http://www.seasonalvacationspots.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2007

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 6 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970′s-80′s.


Get a Credit Card or Fast Cash Loan!


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Tales Of Monkey Island

Category : Region I

Tales Of Monkey Island

Gameplay

As with its predecessors, Tales of Monkey Island is a graphic adventure game. Players assume the role of protagonist Guybrush Threepwood in exploring 3D environments and solving a variety of puzzles. Puzzles consist of traditional adventure game conundrums where the player must use the environment to pass a predicament, as well as puzzles that require the use of items that the player has collected and stored in their inventory to complete. In contrast to previous games by Telltale Games, but in keeping with preceding Monkey Island games, Tales of Monkey Island allows players to combine certain items in their inventory to create new items. The game world is explored through use of the keyboard and mouse on the PC, and the Nunchuk on the Wii. In addition, a system of navigation new to Telltale adventure games is used: instead of clicking where the character should go to, the player can hold and drag the mouse to move Guybrush in the desired direction. As with previous Monkey Island adventure games, Tales of Monkey Island is designed to prevent the player from arriving at a dead-end situation, either by the death of the player character or another impasse that would otherwise prevent further progression. Each chapter of the game is estimated to be between two and four hours, depending on the player’s ability to deal with the puzzles. To assist players who struggle with the game’s puzzles, a subtle hint system is also integrated into the game.

In addition to the standard gameplay, the first chapter of the game includes a separate “treasure hunt” feature. This game mode has the player direct Guybrush through a maze-like jungle in pursuit of hidden treasure; these finds then translate into prizes and discounts on Telltale’s website. In order to access the hunt feature the player must find maps on various websites, including the official Telltale website and fan blogs.

Synopsis

Setting and characters

Main article: World of Monkey Island

Tales of Monkey Island is set several years after the events of Escape from Monkey Island, and discards the Tri-Island Area, the setting used for the game’s predecessors, in favor of a new locale, the Gulf of Melange. The game follows the story of Guybrush Threepwood (voiced by Dominic Armato), a nave, hapless yet successful pirate who has spent the last few years before to the game traveling the seas to find artifacts needed to craft the “Cursed Cutlass of Kaflu”, a voodoo sword capable of permanently destroying his arch-nemesis, LeChuck (voiced by Adam Harrington, Kevin Blackton and later Earl Boen). LeChuck, an evil demon pirate captain, has vied throughout the series for the love of Elaine Marleyhreepwood (voiced by Alexandra Boyd), the former governor of the Tri-Island Area and wife of Guybrush. In the events immediately prior to the game, LeChuck has kidnapped Elaine; Guybrush now pursues LeChuck with the voodoo cutlass. Several other ancillary characters return in Tales of Monkey Island, including the Voodoo Lady (voiced by Alison Ewing), an enigmatic voodoo priestess who advises Guybrush in his quests, Stan (voiced by Gavin Hammon), a stereotypical salesman and business opportunist, and Murray (voiced by Denny Delk), a disembodied talking skull with delusions of grandeur. The game also introduces new characters to the series, such as Morgan LeFlay (voiced by Nicki Rapp), an athletic and competent female bounty hunter who idolizes Guybrush, the Marquis de Singe (voiced by Jared Emerson-Johnson), an antagonistic French nobleman and doctor, and Coronada DeCava (voiced by Andrew Chaikin), an explorer and former boyfriend of the Voodoo Lady.

Plot

Having finally acquired the components of the Cutlass of Kaflu, Guybrush races to save his wife from LeChuck at the Rock of Gelato; however, he botches the attempt to create the sword. When Guybrush stabs LeChuck, the flawed cutlass turns LeChuck into a human, while causing Guybrush’s hand to be infected by the “Pox of LeChuck”, giving the hand a mind of its own. An explosion on the ship hurls Guybrush into the ocean, and he later washes up on Flotsam Island. Guybrush encounters the Voodoo Lady, who explains that the pox will ravage the Caribbean if not soaked up by a voodoo sea sponge known as La Esponja Grande (The Big Sponge). Guybrush is advised to seek DeCava, who is on an expedition to find La Esponja Grande; however, to leave Flotsam, Guybrush must first neutralize an ancient relic that draws the winds inwards and prevents ships from leaving. It soon becomes evident that the Marquis de Singe is using the machine to bring pirates to the island for his medical experiments. De Singe becomes obsessed with Guybrush’s hand, believing it to be key to eternal life. Guybrush reverts the wind patterns to normalnwittingly causing the pox to spread across the seand departs in his newly acquired ship, the Screaming Narwhal, while de Singe hires the services of Morgan LeFlay to capture Guybrush. En route to the Jerkbait Islands, Morgan boards the Screaming Narwhal and duels with Guybrush, cutting off his pox-infected hand, which she returns to de Singe.

Guybrush arriving for the first time at the town on Flotsam Island. Tales of Monkey Island features fully 3D environments; preceding installments used pre-rendered 2D backgrounds

On the Jerkbait Islands, Guybrush finds Elaine safe along with LeChuck, who is trying to reform and make up for his evils deeds of the past. The three help defend the resident merfolk city from pox-infected pirates, and in return the merfolk summon sea creatures that will help Guybrush locate La Esponja Grande. Elaine stays behind to watch over LeChuck’s actions. As Guybrush follows the creatures on the Screaming Narwhal, Morgan again boards the ship, having been told by de Singe that all of Guybrush is needed. Distracted by their duel, neither can react in time as the Screaming Narwhal is swallowed whole by a giant manatee. Inside the manatee, Guybrush and LeFlay discover DeCava and his crew; Guybrush heals the manatee’s injuries and escapes with DeCava to the location of La Esponja Grande. After retrieving La Esponja Grande, Morgan knocks Guybrush unconscious and sets sail for Flotsam Island with her bounty.

As Morgan reluctantly delivers Guybrush to de Singe, he is seized by the townspeople and put on trial for having released the pox on the Gulf of Melange. LeChuck exonerates Guybrush by implicating himself in the creation of the pox, producing further evidence that the events of all Guybrush’s and LeChuck’s previous confrontations have been orchestrated by the Voodoo Lady; the two are imprisoned and Guybrush is released. As Guybrush prepares La Esponja Grande to cure the pox, he discovers Morgan has been murdered in de Singe’s laboratory. At the wind machine, de Singe traps Guybrush and Elaine, believing that his experiments with Guybrush’s poxed hand are on the verge of granting immortality. De Singe, however, falls into the wind machine and is disintegrated; Guybrush then uses La Esponja Grande to soak up the pox. LeChuck arrives to free the two but as Guybrush thanks him, LeChuck impales him on the Cutlass of Kaflu and uses La Esponja Grande to transfer the pox’s potency to himself.

Now deceased, Guybrush finds his spiritual self at the crossroads, the place where the living and dead realms meet. With the assistance of the spirit of Morgan, he finds a spell that embodies courage, anchor, direction and sacrifice, and returns to the land of the living as a ghost. LeChuck, however, absorbs the massive amounts of energy from the rift between worlds opened by Guybrushhe pox was engineered by LeChuck to achieve this goal. Elaine, in an apparent act of betrayal, becomes LeChuck’s demon bride. Guybrush repossesses his dead body and shrinks La Esponja Grande, reversing LeChuck’s hold over Elaine. LeChuck viciously attacks Guybrush, who lures LeChuck into the rift. There, he is simultaneously stabbed by Elaine and Morgan, destroying his physical and spiritual forms. Stranded alone at the crossroads, Guybrush realizes that he has one more item that meets the spell’s criteria for his return: Elaine’s wedding ring. He uses it to restore himself to life and return to his wife. However, the spirit of Morgan delivers a jar containing the essence of LeChuck to the Voodoo Lady, in exchange for her return to the land of the living.

Chapters

Chapter

Release date

Windows release

WiiWare release

“Launch of the Screaming Narwhal”

July 7, 2009

NA July 27, 2009

PAL July 31, 2009

Notes:

Designed by Mark Darin, Brendan Q. Ferguson, Chuck Jordan, Jake Rodkin and Michael Stemmle

Written by Michael Stemmle

After accidentally releasing a voodoo pox from an attempt to destroy LeChuck once and for all, Guybrush must investigate the cause of winds keeping ships from leaving Flotsam Island

“The Siege of Spinner Cay”

August 20, 2009

NA August 31, 2009

PAL September 25, 2009

Notes:

Designed by Will Armstrong, Mark Darin, Brendan Q. Ferguson, Chuck Jordan, Jake Rodkin and Michael Stemmle

Written by Mark Darin

Guybrush travels to the Jerkbait Islands to find information on La Esponja Grande, a voodoo sea sponge that can cure the pox, but finds a volatile dispute between the resident merfolk and pox-infected pirates

“Lair of the Leviathan”

September 29, 2009

NA October 26, 2009

PAL November 6, 2009

Notes:

Designed by Will Armstrong, Mark Darin, Brendan Q. Ferguson, Dave Grossman, Joe Pinney, Jake Rodkin, Michael Stemmle and Sean Vanaman

Written by Sean Vanaman

Having had their ship swallowed by a giant manatee, Guybrush and Morgan LeFlay must escape and secure La Esponja Grande

“The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood”

October 30, 2009

NA November 30, 2009

PAL December 11, 2009

Notes:

Designed by Will Armstrong, Mark Darin, Brendan Q. Ferguson, Dave Grossman, Joe Pinney, Jake Rodkin, Michael Stemmle and Sean Vanaman

Written by Michael Stemmle

Upon returning to Flotsam Island, Guybrush is arrested and put on trial for misdemeanours committed during his last visit

“Rise of the Pirate God”

December 8, 2009

NA February 1, 2010

PAL February 18, 2010

Notes:

Designed by Mark Darin, Dave Grossman, Jake Rodkin, Michael Stemmle and Sean Vanaman

Written by Mark Darin

Guybrush must find a way to escape the crossroads of the afterlife and thwart LeChuck’s rise to power

Development

Production

Tales of Monkey Island was developed by Telltale Games, under license from LucasArts. The game marks a first collaboration between the two companies; Telltale Games was formed from former LucasArts members in the wake of the cancellation of Sam & Max: Freelance Police in 2004, after which LucasArts appeared to have abandoned the adventure game genre. Though Telltale Games had been considering a Monkey Island game since the company’s inception, Telltale’s design director Dave Grossman credits the go-ahead for Tales as the correct alignment of interested parties, including the then-new president of LucasArts, Darrell Rodriguez, for helping to champion the cause for adventure games within LucasArts. Mark Darin, co-designer and writer on the project, attributes this revival to the rise of digital distribution within the video game industry, allowing for companies such as Telltale to develop “something different from the endless clones of popular games” while reducing the element of financial risk involved.

Announced by LucasArts in a joint press release at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June 2009, the game counterparts an enhanced remake of The Secret of Monkey Island developed by LucasArts. The game’s trailer was also unveiled at the convention. Tales of Monkey Island was previously hinted at by Telltale Games as a major new series to be announced at the convention. Design work on the game began in late 2008, while production got underway at the beginning of 2009. Each episode has taken approximately four months of work to complete. Beyond licensing out the series to Telltale, LucasArts was involved in the development of the game through collaboration and approval of the game’s script, character concept art and puzzle design. Since the remake of The Secret of Monkey Island began development before Tales of Monkey Island, LucasArts shared their art style guide with Telltale, so that the art direction between the two products was similar. Writer Sean Vanaman noted that as the license holder, LucasArts was open to Telltale’s creative direction of the game, and did not “put their foot down” over any aspects of the production.

Grossman stated that they opted to release the WiiWare version of Tales of Monkey Island alongside the PC version as part of their model; they have opted to bounce releases between WiiWare and Xbox Live Arcade, as well as wanting to “give the Wii a little love as well”; Xbox Live was omitted from the inital release due to the presence of both Telltale’s Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures and LucasArts’ special edition of The Secret of Monkey Island on the system at the same time. Telltale Games has not ruled out a future release on Xbox Live as well as potentially porting their games to the PlayStation 3, Mac OS and Linux systems. The first episode for PC was released on July 7, 2009, with the Wii version following on July 27, 2009. Michael Stemmle likened Telltale’s episodic production cycle on Tales of Monkey Island to a relay race in comparison to development on a full game such as Escape from Monkey Island being akin to marathon. According to Stemmle, this results in development work continuing on aspects such as the game’s graphics right up to the release deadline. Telltale had hinted previously they were seeking to bring their games to the Macintosh system, but had not released any scheduled plans for this. However, on Febraury 11, 2010, Telltale revealed that Tales of Monkey Island was available for the Mac, and they would continue to support the platform by allowing users to vote on which series they would next port over.

Design director Dave Grossman (left) worked with Ron Gilbert and Tim Schafer to create the first two Monkey Island games, while Michael Stemmle (right) had co-designed the fourth game in the series.

The development team was headed by Grossman, one of the original designers for the first two Monkey Island games, with Michael Stemmle, who co-designed Escape from Monkey Island and Sam & Max Hit the Road, contributing to design and writing the story alongside Mark Darin and Sean Vanaman. Regarding the game’s puzzle design, Stemmle remarked that when he and his fellow designers were younger, they felt their task was to “stump the player”; however, now Stemmle believes that “it’s a lot better to make the players feel smart”, necessitating the inclusion of a hint system to help prevent players becoming stuck. The game’s artistic direction is developed by several other former LucasArts members, with experience from both The Curse of Monkey Island and Escape from Monkey Island, as well as several preceding LucasArts adventure games. While not intimately involved with development, series creator Ron Gilbert assisted in brainstorming the project; the development team asserts that Gilbert’s “thumbprints are all over” the game. On his blog, Gilbert wrote that he was “very excited” for both Telltale’s adaptation and LucasArts’ reimagining of the original game, stating that “it’s strange and humbling to see something you created 20 years ago take on a life of its own”.

While both Gilbert and Grossman were engaged with development, Tim Schafer, the third co-designer of the original game, was not associated with the project. Grossman noted that there was a “legal wrangling” getting Gilbert involved due to his involvement in another game development studio, and it would have been too much trouble to also include Schafer. Schafer later declared that he was “really happy” for the new game in an interview with Joystiq, and that the project was in good hands under Grossman’s lead. The game’s limited-edition slipcover artwork was painted by Sam & Max creator Steve Purcell, who was responsible for the box art to The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge.

According to Grossman, Tales of Monkey Island is set after an “imaginary” Monkey Island 5, which he views as “a blockbuster, epic 40-hour gigantic experience like the earlier games” that would account for Guybrush’s actions between Escape from Monkey Island and Tales of Monkey Island. As with Telltale’s other products, Tales of Monkey Island is developed episodically, split into five parts; Grossman explained that Telltale prefers to split a story into segments rather than have one game that is too long for people to comfortably play. However, unlike previous games, each episode is not considered a standalone tale but rather a single chapter in an ongoing narrative. Very few game resources are reused between episodes, removing the central hubs and “comfort zones” that were present in Sam & Max Save the World and Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures. For the first time in the series, the game is fully rendered with 3D graphics; even the nominally 3D Escape from Monkey Island was based on 2D pre-rendered environments. Grossman explained that Telltale prefers the advantages 3D graphics offers over 2D in regards to animations and cinematography, and that the game engine used by Telltale for all its games, the Telltale Tool, and Telltale’s art department are entirely orientated towards the development of 3D graphics.

Audio

The composer behind the preceding games in the series, Michael Land, returns to score Tales of Monkey Island’s soundtrack. Jared Emerson-Johnson, who usually composes the soundtracks to Telltale’s games, stated that his role in the game’s music was “technical and administrative”. While Emerson-Johnson had been willing to assist Land’s work, “the sound of the Monkey Island universe is all about Mike vision, so he was left alone to ‘do his thing’ as only he can”. Dominic Armato, the voice actor introduced for Guybrush in The Curse of Monkey Island, described by LucasArts’ David Collins as “the ultimate Monkey Island fanboy”, reprises his role as the central protagonist; LucasArts encouraged Telltale to retain the original cast as much as possible, especially Armato. Armato savored the opportunity to voice the character again, having come to accept that the series would not be continued after ten years. Due to concurrent development, Armato attempted to make Guybrush in Tales of Monkey Island sound more mature and experienced than Guybrush in the special edition of The Secret of Monkey Island. The voice actress for Elaine Marley in The Curse of Monkey Island, Alexandra Boyd, also returns to voice the character. Boyd was unable to travel to Telltale’s studio in California, instead recording her lines in London and communicating with the director via Skype. Earl Boen did not initially voice LeChuck; the character was instead voiced by Adam Harrington in the first episode, with Kevin Blackton performing the human LeChuck in chapters two to four. However, Boen returned as the voice of the demon LeChuck at the end of the fourth episode, and has since recorded the lines for LeChuck’s demon incarnation in the first episode. To assist the actors’ portrayal of characters, Telltale have implemented a lip sync system to present a large range of facial expressions on character models.

Marketing

To promote the game, Telltale Games began to host a series of short Flash films created by fans. Entitled I Wonder What Happens in Tales of Monkey Island, the series was created by Marius Fietzek, a German animator, who co-wrote it with Andrei Constantinescu; the series’ artwork was produced by Martin Koehler. Presented as a cartoon version of the game, the series speculated on the game’s story and content, depicting hypothetical events for the upcoming chapters. The first episode debuted on July 5, 2009, two days before the release of “Launch of the Screaming Narwhal”. The second and third episodes followed on August 6 and September 16, respectively. The penultimate episode was published on October 22. For the fifth and final installment, released on December 4, Fietzek was able to recruit Michael Schmidt of the German hip hop band Fanta 4 for a musical number in the episode. According to Emerson-Johnson, Telltale “was passing [the videos] around for a good week” after they were posted. Emerson-Johnson described the series as “absolutely fantastic”, further noting that “it really seems like these games appeal to people in a way that spurs huge amounts of excellent creative energy”.

In addition, Telltale have produced various items of merchandise for the game, sold from their online store. These include a poster print of Steve Purcell’s cover artwork for the game, and a set of promotional badges, the latter of which were previously only available at conventions such as E3. For International Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19, 2009, Telltale Games made the first chapter, “Launch of the Screaming Narwhal”, available for free on their website. Customers who had already purchased the entire game were instead able to receive a free episode of one of Telltale’s other episodic games.

Release

Aggregate review scores

Game

GameRankings

Metacritic

” Launch of the Screaming Narwhal”

PC: 80%

Wii: 80%

PC: 79%

Wii: 79%

” The Siege of Spinner Cay”

PC: 79%

Wii: 80%

PC: 77%

Wii: 79%

” Lair of the Leviathan”

PC: 84%

Wii: 85%

PC: 82%

Wii: 80%

” The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood”

PC: 82%

Wii: 82%

PC: 80%

Wii: 83%

” Rise of the Pirate God”

PC: 83%

Wii: 80%

PC: 81%

Wii: 82%

Sales

Tales of Monkey Island was a commercial success for Telltale Games, and received a favorable critical response. While Telltale has not released sales figures for the game, Mark Darin reported that the game was Telltale’s most successful project to date. According to Telltale’s marketing department, the game was predominately sold as a full season as opposed to being purchased as individual episodes, this was attributed to the strong narrative between episodes in contrast to Telltale’s previous works. Tales of Monkey Island exceeded the company’s expectations for sales; Telltale CEO Dan Conners also noted that the game had been the top selling product on Steam for “a few days”.

Reception

This section requires expansion.

The first chapter, “Launch of the Screaming Narwhal”, was thought by critics to be a respectable start to the game. The chapter’s puzzles were praised, with GameSpy commenting that puzzles “generally challenge [the player] just enough without becoming too frustrating”, while Eurogamer felt Telltale got the puzzle quality “bang-on time after time”. However, criticism was directed towards some elements of puzzle design, in particular one puzzle that took the form of a maze. The writing and story were lauded; several reviews commended the humor in the dialogue, though Adventure Gamers felt that writing did not match up to the quality of LeChuck’s Revenge. Although the chapter’s supporting cast was derided as weak, critics enjoyed the introduction of de Singe to the series. The voicework for the main characters was praised, as was Land’s soundtrack. Critics were mostly complimentary towards the episode’s graphics, with 1UP.com calling Guybrush “the most convincingly expressive Telltale character yet”; though concerns were voiced over varied graphical quality between models. The game’s controls were subject to reproof by a number of reviews, several preferring to use the keyboard controls over Telltale’s new “click and drag” mechanism.

“The Siege of Spinner Cay” garnered a similar overall response as the preceding episode. Critics were divided over the quality of the chapter’s puzzles: Destructoid criticised the design as “tight and constricted”, and Adventure Gamers felt that the puzzles wildly varied in quality, while the design was praised as “pleasantly non-linear” by Eurogamer and as logical and sensible by PALGN. However, the need for the player to traverse long distances between key locations for mundane tasks was criticised. The episode’s writing was lauded by reviewers; in particular, praise was bestowed on the chapter’s opening scene, which introduces Morgan LeFlay. Nevertheless, the story itself was disparaged as merely setting the stage for the future episodes. While the supporting cast was again criticized, the development in the roles of the main characters was approved of. Critics again admired the chapter’s audio work, with Adventure Gamers praising Kevin Blackton’s rendition of the human LeChuck as a “real standout”, while graphical tweaks over “The Launch of the Screaming Narwhal” were also appreciated.

Awards

Tales of Monkey Island has been recipient to a number of publication awards and nominations within the video game industry. Following the game’s announcement at E3 2009, IGN named it the “Biggest Surprise” of the convention, while the game was a finalist for GameSpot’s E3 Editors’ Choice Award for Best Adventure Game. IGN later nominated the first and third chapters as the best Wii and PC adventure games of the year respectively, the latter losing out to the special edition of The Secret of Monkey Island. For their best and worst video games of 2009, OC Weekly named Tales of Monkey Island as the “Best Series Revival” in 2009, and About.com put Tales of Monkey Island as the second best Wii game of the year. Gamasutra gave the game honorable mention for its best PC games of the year, as well as giving similar mention to Telltale Games as one of the top developers of the year, while PC Gamer US awarded the game “Adventure Game of the Year”. Nintendo Power also nominated Tales of Monkey Island as the overall game of the year, best WiiWare game and best adventure game of 2009, as well as nominating Morgan LeFlay as the best character of the year.

References

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^ “Nintendo Download: Monkey Island and Musketeers, Card Games and Sudoku”. Nintendo of America. 2009-07-27. http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/DRd_o8GBGc9YmWYaRzFdPohhJhcgO842. Retrieved 2009-07-27. 

^ a b “Rise of the Pirate God on WiiWare this Monday!”. The Telltale Interloper (Telltale Games) VI (1). 2010-01-29. 

^ “Tales Of Monkey Island Hits WiiWare”. http://n-europe.com/news.php?nid=13439. Retrieved 2009-07-31. 

^ a b “Pirate God’s on the Wii”. The International House of Mojo. LF Network, LLC. 2010-02-18. http://www.mixnmojo.com/php/news/showfile.php?id=3788&category=telltale. Retrieved 2010-02-19. 

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^ a b c d e Kleinberg, Dante (2009-06-02). “Preview: Tales of Monkey Island first look”. Adventure Gamers. http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,1024. Retrieved 2009-06-02. 

^ a b c d Kietzmann, Ludwig (2009-07-07). “Review: Tales of Monkey Island (Launch of the Screaming Narwhal)”. Joystiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/review-tales-of-monkey-island-launch-of-the-screaming-narwhal/. Retrieved 2009-07-09. 

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^ “Q: What’s another word for pirate treasure?”. Telltale Games. 21 July 2009. http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-477. Retrieved 29 August 2009. 

^ “Treasure Huntin’ with us and Telltale”. The Tales of Monkey Island Blog. LF Network, LLC. 2009-08-14. http://talesofmi.net/?p=462. Retrieved 2009-08-29. 

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^ a b “Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 1 “Launch of the Screaming Narwhal”". MobyGames. 2009. http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-1-launch-of-the-screaming-narwhal/credits. Retrieved 2010-02-01. 

^ a b Bregger, Patrick (2009). “Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 4 “The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood”". MobyGames. http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-4-the-trial-and-execution-of-guyb/credits. Retrieved 2010-02-01. 

^ “Murray to return in ToMI; Internet tries to act surprised”. The International House of Mojo. LF Network, LLC. 2009-07-13. http://www.mixnmojo.com/php/news/showfile.php?id=3501&category=telltale. Retrieved 2010-02-01. 

^ Constantinescu, Andrei (2009-11-30). “Nicki Rapp Interview”. The Tales of Monkey Island Blog. LF Network, LLC. http://talesofmi.net/?p=745. Retrieved 2010-02-01. 

^ a b c d e Constantinescu, Andrei (2009-12-12). “Jared Emerson-Johnson Interview”. The Tales of Monkey Island Blog. LFNetwork, LLC. http://talesofmi.net/?p=777. Retrieved 2009-12-12. 

^ Bregger, Patrick (2009). “Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 3 “Lair of the Leviathan”". MobyGames. http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-3-lair-of-the-leviathan/credits. Retrieved 2010-02-01. 

^ Telltale Games. Tales of Monkey Island: “Launch of the Screaming Narwhal”. PC. (July 2009)

^ a b Telltale Games. Tales of Monkey Island: “The Siege of Spinner Cay”. PC. (August 2009)

^ Telltale Games. Tales of Monkey Island: “Lair of the Leviathan”. PC. (September 2009)

^ Telltale Games. Tales of Monkey Island: “The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood”. PC. (October 2009)

^ Telltale Games. Tales of Monkey Island: “Rise of the Pirate God”. PC. (December 2009)

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^ “Monkey Island and Musketeers, Card Games and Sudoku”. Nintendo of America. 2009-07-27. http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/DRd_o8GBGc9YmWYaRzFdPohhJhcgO842. Retrieved 2009-12-18. 

^ Davis, Ryan. “Release dates of Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 1: “Launch of the Screaming Narwhal”". Giant Bomb. http://www.giantbomb.com/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-1-launch-of-the-screaming-narwhal/61-26776/releases/#platform-2. Retrieved 2010-01-07. 

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^ “Pirates, Puzzles, Rattlers and Role-Playing”. Nintendo of America. 2009-08-31. http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/jw6qAPPxrcP8t2FwKYU9l2gWpq2sVJ3P. Retrieved 2009-09-02. 

^ Eggers, David (2009-09-17). “Spinner Cay. WiiWare. Europe. September 25.”. Telltale Games. http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-502. Retrieved 2009-12-18. 

^ Eggers, David (2009-09-27). “Enter the Lair of the Leviathan”. Telltale Games. http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-508. Retrieved 2009-12-18. 

^ “Nintendo Offers Downloadable Halloween Fun from Axe to Zombies”. Nintendo of America. 26 October 2009. http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/ji_pjvCIWzQYUpIwY339q08pgm7vIGns. Retrieved 27 October 2009. 

^ Eggers, David (2009-11-05). “Lair of the Leviathan on WiiWare in Europe November 6!”. Telltale Games. http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-529. Retrieved 2009-12-18. 

^ Eggers, David (2009-10-30). “Tales of Monkey Island Ch. 4 out now!”. Telltale Games. http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-524. Retrieved 2009-12-18. 

^ “Nintendo Offers 10 Downloads to Help You Recover from Your Holiday Weekend”. Nintendo of America. 2009-11-30. http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/zNkSTwlGhaR9groybRQ-XvIIl5nV32u-. Retrieved 2009-12-18. 

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^ Allin, Jack (2009-06-01). “Tales of Monkey Island swing into action in July”. Adventure Gamers. http://www.adventuregamers.com/newsitem.php?id=1900. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ Martin, Joe (2009-06-01). “New Monkey Island games confirmed”. Bit-tech. http://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/2009/06/01/new-monkey-island-games-confirmed/1. Retrieved 2009-06-02. 

^ a b c d e Purchase, Robert (2009-06-23). “A tale of Monkey Island”. Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/a-tale-of-monkey-island-interview. Retrieved 2009-06-23. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island: Interview”. Nintendo of Europe. http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/games/wiiware/tales_of_monkey_island_interview_14303.html. Retrieved 2009-12-18. 

^ a b Meer, Alec (2009-06-01). “LeChuck Me: Monkey Island Returns”. Rock, Paper, Shotgun. http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/06/01/lechuck-me-monkey-island-returns/. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

^ Purchase, Robert (2009-05-15). “Telltale has new episodic series for E3″. Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/telltale-has-new-episodic-series-for-e3. Retrieved 2009-06-02. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Preview”. The International House of Mojo. 2009-06-03. http://www.mixnmojo.com/features/read.php?article=tmipreview. Retrieved 2009-06-03. 

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^ Newheiser, Mark (2009-09-26). “Sean Vanaman Telltale Games Interview”. Adventure Classic Gaming. http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/interviews/515/. Retrieved 2009-12-12. 

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^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (2009-06-22). “Making point-and-click cool again”. VideoGamer.com. Pro-G Media Ltd.. http://www.videogamer.com/pc/tales_of_monkey_island/news/making_point-and-click_cool_again.html. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 

^ a b “Tales of Monkey Island Q&A with Telltale Designer Mike Stemmle”. Destructoid. 2009-06-25. http://www.destructoid.com/tales-of-monkey-island-q-a-with-telltale-designer-mike-stemmle-137500.phtml. Retrieved 2009-06-30. 

^ Davidson, John (2010-01-30). “Tales of Monkey Island coming to the Mac. iPad version imminent?”. GamePro. IDG. http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/213792/tales-of-monkey-island-coming-to-the-mac-ipad-version-imminent/. Retrieved 2010-02-11. 

^ a b “Tales of Monkey Island The Team”. Telltale Games. 2009-06-01. http://www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland/team. Retrieved 2009-06-02. 

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^ Kietzmann, Ludwig (2009-06-09). “Interview: Tim Schafer and the art of selling out”. Joystiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/interview-tim-schafer-and-the-art-of-selling-out/. Retrieved 2009-06-12. 

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^ “Tales of Monkey Island An Epic Tale of Adventure in Five Parts”. Telltale Games. http://www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland/episodes. Retrieved 2009-12-12. 

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^ Eggers, David (2009-09-16). “Lair of the Leviathan: I wonder what happens…”. Telltale Games. http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-500. Retrieved 2009-12-12. 

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^ Eggers, David (2009-12-04). “Rise of the Pirate God: I wonder what happens?”. Telltale Games. http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-544. Retrieved 2009-12-12. 

^ Harper, Nikki (2009-09-18). “Pirates! Posters!”. Telltale Games. http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-505. Retrieved 2009-12-14. 

^ Harper, Nikki (2009-10-16). “Weekend store happenings: Buttons!”. Telltale Games. http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-513. Retrieved 2009-12-14. 

^ Eggers, David (2009-09-17). “Play like a Pirate this Saturday!”. Telltale Games. http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-503. Retrieved 2009-09-19. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 1: “Launch of the Screaming Narwhal” for PC”. GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/960379-/index.html. Retrieved 2009-12-27. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 1: “Launch of the Screaming Narwhal” for Wii”. GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/960370-monkey-island-chapter-1/index.html. Retrieved 2009-12-27. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 1: “Launch of the Screaming Narwhal” (PC: 2009) Reviews”. Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/talesofmonkeyislandchapter1launch. Retrieved 2009-10-03. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 1: “Launch of the Screaming Narwahal” (Wii: 2009) Reviews”. Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/talesofmonkeyislandchapter1launch. Retrieved 2009-10-03. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 2: “The Siege of Spinner Cay” for PC”. GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/961258-/index.html. Retrieved 2009-11-01. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 2: “The Siege of Spinner Cay” for Wii”. GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/961259-monkey-island-chapter-2/index.html. Retrieved 2009-12-27. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 2: “The Siege of Spinner Cay” (PC: 2009) Reviews”. Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/talesofmonkeyislandchapter2thesiege. Retrieved 2009-08-29. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 2: “The Siege of Spinner Cay” (Wii: 2009) Reviews”. Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/talesofmonkeyislandchapter2thesiege. Retrieved 2009-12-27. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 3: “Lair of the Leviathan” for PC”. GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/961260-/index.html. Retrieved 2009-11-05. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 3: “Lair of the Leviathan” for Wii”. GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/961261-/index.html. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 3: “Lair of the Leviathan” (PC:2009) Reviews”. Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/talesofmonkeyislandchapter3lair. Retrieved 2009-11-05. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 3: “Lair of the Leviathan” (Wii: 2009) Reviews”. Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/talesofmonkeyislandchapter3lair. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 4: “The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood” for PC”. GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/961262-/index.html. Retrieved 2009-11-30. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 4: “The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood” for Wii”. GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/961263-monkey-island-chapter-4/index.html. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 4: “The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood” (PC:2009) Reviews”. Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/talesofmonkeyislandchapter4thetrial?q=Tales of Monkey Island. Retrieved 2010-01-15. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 4: “The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood” (Wii:2009) Reviews”. Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/talesofmonkeyislandchapter4thetrial. Retrieved 2009-11-15. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 5: “Rise of the Pirate God” for PC”. GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/961265-monkey-island-chapter-5/index.html. Retrieved 2009-12-10. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 5: “Rise of the Pirate God” for Wii”. GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/961264-monkey-island-chapter-5/index.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 5: “Rise of the Pirate God” (PC:2009) Reviews”. Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/talesofmonkeyislandchapter5rise. Retrieved 2010-01-18. 

^ “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 5: “Rise of the Pirate God” (Wii:2010) Reviews”. Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/talesofmonkeyislandchapter5rise. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 

^ a b c Yin-Poole, Wesley (2009-07-30). “Monkey Island Telltale est performing title ever”. VideoGamer.com. Pro-G Media Ltd. http://www.videogamer.com/news/monkey_island_telltale_s_best_performing_title_ever.html. Retrieved 2009-12-29. 

^ a b Ogden, Gavin (2009-08-26). “Telltale: Tales of Monkey Island “most successful” series yet”. Computer and Video Games. Future plc. http://computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=222043. Retrieved 2009-08-26. 

^ a b c d Hoggins, Tom (2009-07-24). “Tales of Monkey Island: Episode 1 video game review”. The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/5900075/Tales-of-Monkey-Island-Episode-1-video-game-review.html. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 

^ a b c d Davis, Ryan (2009-07-07). “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 1: “Launch of the Screaming Narwhal”". Giant Bomb. http://www.giantbomb.com/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-1-launch-of-the-screaming-narwhal/61-26776/reviews/. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 

^ a b Scott, Ryan (2009-07-09). “The Consensus: Tales of Monkey Island: Episode 1 Review”. GameSpy. http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/tales-of-monkey-island/1002571p1.html. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 

^ a b c d e Reed, Kirsten (2009-07-08). “Tales of Monkey Island: “Launch of the Screaming Narwhal”". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-1-launch-of-the-screaming-narwhal-review. Retrieved 2010-01-09. 

^ a b Ocampo, Jason (2009-07-07). “Tales of Monkey Islandpisode 1: “Launch of the Screaming Narwhal” Review”. IGN. http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/100/1001756p1.html. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 

^ a b c d Dickens, Evan (2009-07-07). “Review: Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 1 “Launch of the Screaming Narwhal”". Adventure Gamers. http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,1037. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 

^ Haywald, Justin (2009-07-07). “Tales of Monkey Island (PC)”. 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3175085&p=1. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 

^ Giovetti, Al (2009-08-05). “Tales of Monkey Island Episode 1: “Launch of the Screaming Narwhal”". Just Adventure. http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/TMI_Ep1_Narwhal/Narwhal.shtm. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 

^ Mackey, Bob (2009-07-14). “Three Reasons Tales of Monkey Island Got It Right”. 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8998329&publicUserId=5631527. Retrieved 2009-07-14. 

^ a b c Zimmerman, Conrad; Nicholson, Brad (2009-08-20). “Review: Tales of Monkey Island, Chapter 2″. Destructoid. http://www.destructoid.com/review-tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-2-145068.phtml. Retrieved 2010-01-18. 

^ a b c d e f g Dickens, Evan (2009-08-24). “Review: Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 2 “The Siege of Spinner Cay”". Adventure Gamers. http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,1059. Retrieved 2010-01-18. 

^ a b c Reed, Kirsten (2009-08-25). “Tales of Monkey Island: “The Siege of Spinner Cay”". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-two-review. Retrieved 2010-01-18. 

^ a b c d Ghiggino, Adam (2009-08-20). “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 2: “The Siege of Spinner Cay” Review”. PALGN. http://palgn.com.au/pc-gaming/15089/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-2-the-siege-of-spinner-cay-review/. Retrieved 2010-01-18. 

^ a b c Ely, Sean (2009-08-20). “PC Review Tales of Monkey Island Episode 2: “The Siege of Spinner Cay”". GamePro. IDG. http://gparcade.blogfaction.com/article/110421/pc-review-tales-of-monkey-island-episode-2-the-siege-of-spinner-cay/. Retrieved 2010-01-18. 

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^ a b Gillman, Dan (2009-08-20). “Tales of Monkey Island: “The Siege of Spinner Cay”". Mygamer.com. http://www.mygamer.com/index.php?page=gameportal&mode=reviews&id=555495. Retrieved 2010-01-18. 

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^ a b Reboucas, Eduardo (2009-09-10). “Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 2: “The Siege of Spinner Cay” PC”. Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/pc/monkey-island-chapter-2. Retrieved 2010-01-18. 

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^ “E3 09 Editors’ Choice Award Best Adventure Game”. GameSpot. 2009-06-11. http://uk.gamespot.com/special_feature/e3-2009-editors-choice/genres/index.html?page=2. Retrieved 2010-01-11. 

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^ Remo, Chris (2009-12-07). “Gamasutra’s Best Of 2009: Top 5 PC Games”. Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26234/Gamasutras_Best_Of_2009_Top_5_PC_Games.php. Retrieved 2010-01-11. 

^ Remo, Chris (2009-12-17). “Gamasutra’s Best Of 2009: Top 5 Developers”. Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26242/Gamasutras_Best_Of_2009_Top_5_Developers.php. Retrieved 2010-01-11. 

^ Harper, Nikki (2010-02-03). “Monkey Island DVD, Raves and Graves”. Telltale Games. http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-567. 

^ “Nominations for the 2009 Nintendo Power Awards”. Nintendo Power (Future US): pp.7273. January 2009. http://www.nintendopower.com/images/NP250_NPA2009.jpg. Retrieved 2009-01-11. 

External links

Tales of Monkey Island at Telltale Games

Tales of Monkey Island at The International House of Mojo

Tales of Monkey Island on the Monkey Island wiki

v  d  e

The Monkey Island series and related topics

Video games

The Secret of Monkey Island   Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge   The Curse of Monkey Island   Escape from Monkey Island   Tales of Monkey Island

Universe

World of Monkey Island   Guybrush Threepwood   Elaine Marley   LeChuck

Developers

Ron Gilbert   Dave Grossman   Tim Schafer   Sean Clark   Michael Stemmle   Michael Land   LucasArts   Telltale Games

Technology

SCUMM   GrimE   iMuse

v  d  e

Video games developed by Telltale Games

Bone series

Out from Boneville  The Great Cow Race

CSI series

3 Dimensions of Murder  Hard Evidence  Deadly Intent

Sam & Max series

Sam & Max Save the World  Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space

Other titles

Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People  Tales of Monkey Island  Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures

People

Jared Emerson-Johnson  Dave Grossman  Steve Purcell  Michael Stemmle

Categories: 2009 video games | Comedy video games | Episodic video games | LucasArts games | Mac OS games | Monkey Island | Point-and-click adventure games | Telltale Games | Video games about pirates | Video games developed in the United States | WiiWare games | Windows games | Video game sequelsHidden categories: Articles to be expanded from January 2010 | All articles to be expanded

Premiere Medispa Advanced Laser of Long Island

Category : Region I

Premiere Medispa Advanced Laser of Long Island

Your best friend just called to say she was on her way to an appointment at the “Medispa”.
You hesitated, thought, and said have a great time. Did you really have a good idea of where she was going or why?  The medispa is one of the fastest growing trends in the anti-aging, personal aesthetic arena.  The basic concept of the medispa is to offer the most advanced aesthetic technology to help refresh, restore and rejuvenate your skin all in a relaxed, comforting environment and under the direction of a medical doctor. It is a true blending of the best of science, technology and aesthetics.  Industry organizations estimate that despite their tremendous growth there are only about 1200 true MediSpas in the U.S. today.  We are fortunate that Advanced Laser, one of the premier medispas and the islands number one laser hair center is located here on Long island.

Advanced Laser has been brought to the Roslyn area by Wayne Wertheim, M.D., the owner and medical director.  Dr. Wertheim is a native of the area having graduated from Roslyn High School in 1969.  After completing medical school then his residency training at Winthrop University Hospital he began his practice of primary care medicine at Roslyn Medical Associates. It was working in the primary care field that provided a strong “old fashioned” foundation of Dr. Wertheim’s well respected bedside manner; treating all his patients as if they are family.  His patients say that he has a natural ability of making everyone feel “special” and good about themselves.  After practicing for over 25 years he decided to devote his time and energies to the field of anti-aging and aesthetic medicine which he has studied intensely for the past several years.

“The growth of the medispa has multiple roots” explains Dr. Wertheim.  First we have the aging baby boomers who are all at the stage of life where they want to take action to maintain their youth and youthful looks. As one of them myself, we all want to take 100 years to turn, and look, fifty. Secondly we have a younger population that does not want to wait to show the signs of aging. Instead, they are choosing to begin protective and restorative procedures as early as in their 20’s.  Next we have lifestyle.  Today everyone is desirous of quick fixes.  Our lives require that we don’t lose time from work, family, or recreation especially for elective procedures.  One of the hallmarks of the medispa is that almost all the offered procedures have little or no downtime.  Finally and probably most significantly is technology.  The current research and development in aesthetic medicine continues to allow for newer, safer, quicker procedures that meet the aesthetic needs of the population.  When all of this is wrapped in the relaxing atmosphere of a medispa rather than a stressed, sterile, “sickness” oriented environment of the typical doctors office, yet still a medical office, understanding their growing popularity is clear.”

Prudence Ferrone is the aesthetic care coordinator for Advanced Laser.  She has worked with Dr. Wertheim for the last 10 years. Prudy, also an aging baby boomer, is a “product of the product”. She has personally experienced first hand the many procedures they offer.  She is thrilled to show their clients her “before” photos as she is still in awe of what medical grade skin care products and non-invasive procedures have done for her. “What could be better than going to work each day in a field that is fun, exciting and always different?” Prudy continues  “I love traveling to symposia and conferences around the country with the doctor to learn about new products and technologies.  We then bring these back to our centers where we can put them to clinical use and literally change people’s lives. What a great feeling when you can listen to the concerns of your clients, make suggestions, watch the changes take place and the patient’s self confidence grow”.  Prudy is well known for her ability to concoct individualized aesthetic “cocktails”.  Being well versed in all their procedures she is able to pick and chose the right combination of therapies to produce the desired results.  At Advanced Laser they believe education is the key to satisfy the demands of their clientele and help them understand the difference between their center and others”.

The most popular procedures currently performed at Advanced Laser are the amazing laser lipo suction, Zerona  (non invasive lipo-reduction) laser hair removal, Botox Cosmetic and dermal fillers such as Restylane and Radiesse.  “On the near horizon”, states Dr Wertheim, “is a whole new array of non-invasive therapies.  These include innovations such as body sculpting (targeted non surgical removal of fat, i.e. love handles, bulging thighs, tummy pouch etc), and special lasers that stimulate the re-growth of lost hair”.

All of the procedures at Advanced Laser are performed by licensed professionals with additional training and supervision of Dr. Wertheim.  All injectables and advanced laser techniques are performed by Dr. Wertheim. “We only employ staff that I find to be caring, compassionate and professional” says Wertheim.  We want our clients to feel comfortable and relaxed with both our staff and office. We respect our client’s time and make every effort to see them on time, unlike what they are accustomed to in the typical physician’s office.”  The new location has been impeccably designed by Roslyn architect Matthew Korn.  Using a sophisticated palate of color accented by textures including woods, glass, leather and ceramic feelings of warmth and comfort are reinforced.

Advanced Laser is located at 118 Glen Cove Rd in Roslyn (1/2 mile north of the L.I.E),  516-299-5500.  As always consultations are complimentary. We encourage you to stop in for a tour of the facility to get any questions answered or to just say hi . Please visit the website at www.islandlaser.com

Aviation Sights Of Long Island

Category : Region I

Aviation Sights Of Long Island

1. Long Island’s Aviation Seed 

The aviation seed planted on Long Island’s Hempstead Plains in 1909, when Glenn Curtiss had first flown above it in his Golden Flyer biplane, had sprouted and grown over a six-decade period until it had ultimately connected its own soil with that of its moon. 

Its many aerospace sights, depicting its general aviation, commercial, military, and space branches, and geographically spread between Garden City and Calverton, recount this journey. 

2. Cradle of Aviation Museum 

The Cradle of Aviation Museum, located on Museum Row in Garden City near the Coliseum, Nassau Community College, and Hofstra University, tells most of Long Island’s aerospace story. 

Tracing its origin to 1979, when then-County Executive Francis T. Purcell designated funds to restore two aircraft hangars at former Mitchel Field, it displayed several dozen aircraft until it closed for renovation in 1995.  The 130,000-square-foot, million facility, opening on the 75th anniversary of Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight in 2002, showcases more than 70 air- and spacecraft, 11 of which are one-of-a-kind designs, associated with or constructed on Long Island and uncovered during a 20-year search which had stretched from the bottom of Lake Michigan to Guadalcanal.  They had then been restored and preserved by retired airline and defense aircraft manufacturer volunteers who collectively contributed some 650,000 man-hours to the project.  The result had been Long Island’s largest, year-round, educational, recreational, and cultural institution. 

According to New York State Governor George E. Pataki, museum visitors “can see the brief span of years that brought Long Island from hosting the fragile biplanes of 1911 to building the Lunar Module that took mankind to the moon in the sixties.  Through these displays, the Cradle becomes a powerful mirror that reflects our own skills, intellect, and ability to conquer time and space and pays tribute to American innovation and pioneering spirit.” 

The Cradle of Aviation Museum, dominated by its impressive, four-story, glass atrium Reckson Center, greets visitors with a ceiling-suspended Grumman F-11A Tiger supersonic fighter in Blue Angels livery and a 1929 Fleet 2 biplane trainer, symbolically representing the soaring ascent of Long Island’s aviation heritage. 

The main exhibits, located in eight galleries in the two restored Army Air Corps Hangars 3 and 4 which still bear the words “Mitchel Field.  Elev 90 Feet” on their facades, and now designated the Donald Everett Axinn Air and Space Hall, are accessed by a second floor skywalk at whose entrance a third ceiling-suspended replica of a 1922 Sperry Messenger biplane designed by the Lawrence Sperry Aircraft Company of Farmingdale hangs. 

According to the skywalk’s plaque, “Long Island has been at the forefront of American’s aviation and space adventure for the past one hundred years…It all started here on Long Island’s Hempstead Plains.” 

A one-flight descent leads to the first of the museum’s galleries, “Dream of Wings.”  Depicting the triumph of flight with lighter-than-air craft, it demonstrates how balloon, kite, glider, and airship experimentations turned the dream of flight into reality and led to its heavier-than-air successors, displaying aerostatic lift generation, Alexander Graham Bell’s tetrahedral kite, an Otto Lilienthal glider, and a 1906 Timmons kite built in Queens, the museum’s oldest flying exhibit.  A 20-hp Glenn Curtiss airship engine, designed two years later, and a Mineola Bike Shop, demonstrating, in the Wright Brothers’ vein, the technology transfer from the bicycle to the aircraft with propellers and wings, round out the exhibits. 

The “Hempstead Plains” gallery, the next encountered, represents a 1910 air meet.  Amid recordings of turning propellers and accelerating aircraft, a collection of early designs graces the grass-carpeted field and includes an original Bleriot XI of 1909, the world’s fourth-oldest, still-operational airframe; a spruce-and-bamboo replica of Glenn Curtiss’s Golden Flyer, the first heavier-than-air airplane to fly over Long Island; a replica of a Wright Brothers’ Vin Fiz; a Hanriot monoplane; a Farman biplane, a 1911 Anzani engine; and a 1913 Studebaker “motor car.” 

During World War I, as evidenced by the succeeding gallery, the triumph of flight was transferred into the destruction of man, as the airplane assumed the reciprocal role of a weapon, and Long Island had become the center of military aircraft design, testing, and production during this time.  On display is the first airplane acquired by Charles Lindbergh, a Curtiss JN-4 Jenny purchased in 1923 for 0; along with a 1918 Breese Penguin trainer, the only one of the 250 originally produced remaining; an airworthy Thomas-Morse S4C Scout biplane with its original Marlin machine gun; and the F. Trubee Davison World War One wooden hangar, which sports the ribbed, uncovered airframe of a Curtiss Jenny with its engine, propeller, and fuel tank; and a 160-hp Gnome Monosoupope, 1916 engine from France. 

During the Golden Age of Aviation, which spanned the 20-year period from 1919 to 1938, aviation matured, evolving from a dangerous sport to a viable commercial industry.  The motley collection of aircraft in this gallery includes the sister ship to the original Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis and used during the filming of the epic tale; an Aircraft Engineering Corporation “Ace,” which became America’s first sport plane; a replica of a Curtiss/Sperry Aerial Torpedo; a 1932 Grumman F3F-2 Navy Scout fighter; a Brunner Winkle Model A Byrd biplane built in Glendale, Queens; an American Aeronautical Corporation/Savoia Marchetti S-56 amphibian made in Port Washington; and a Grumman G-21 Goose in blue, Pan American Airways System livery. 

During World War II, as reflected by its respective gallery, the aircraft produced by Repubic and Grumman had been crucial to US victory, and within the six-year period from 1939 to 1945 depicted, some 45,000 airframes had rolled off the production line.  On display are a powerless Waco CG-4 Troop Glider, which had been used to deliver soldiers behind enemy lines; a Republic P-47N Thunderbolt; a Grumman F6F Hellcat, a Grumman TBM Avenger, a Grumman F6F Hellcat, a Douglas C-47 cockpit and nose section, and the Sperry Type A-2 lower gun turret which had protected the undersides of B-17 and B-24 long-range bombers. 

The pure-jet engine, as evidenced by the Jet Age Gallery, revolutionized military aviation by endowing aircraft with unprecedented speed, range, maneuverability, and attack capability, and Grumman Aircraft Corporation had been instrumental in this development, having designed more than 40 civilian and military types which totaled some 33,000 airframes and provided employment for 200,000 Long Island residents.  Its military aircraft, particularly, had played crucial roles in numerous conflicts, including those in Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq.  On display are several Grumman designs, inclusive of an E-2 Hawkeye airborne early warning/command-and-control aircraft, an F9F-7 Cougar, the forward fuselage of an F-14 Tomcat, and an A-6 Intruder cockpit simulator, while Republic Aviation is represented by an F-84B Thunderjet, an F-105B supersonic fighter, and an A-10A Thunderbolt cockpit section.  A Boeing 727 nose and cockpit section and a Westinghouse J-34 turbine engine round out the exhibits. 

The “Contemporary Aviation” gallery features air traffic control radar screens which emphasize the congested JFK, La Guardia, and Newark airport triplex, along with their secondary airports of Long Island MacArthur and Westchester County’s White Plains, and Farmingdale’s Republic Airport, the states’ busiest general aviation/reliever field. 

The “Exploring Space” gallery, the last of the eight, depicts the dramatic transition from atmospheric flight to vacuumless space and emphasizes Long Island’s rich contribution to this aerospace sector.  Its exhibits include a Goddard A-series rocket; a Grumman orbiting astronomical observatory; a Grumman echo adapter; a life-size model of the Sputnik satellite which had been presented by the Soviet Union and whose original hardware had launched the Space Race; a Grumman Rigel ramjet missile from 1953; a Grumman Lunar Module simulator; and a Rockwell Command Module which had been used during a 25,000-mph earth reentry test in 1966 prior to the manned Apollo flights. 

A “Clean Room,” representing the environment in which all Lunar Modules had been hand-made, leads to the gallery’s—and the museum’s—most precious exhibit, an actual, 22.9-foot-high, gold foil-covered LM-13, the thirteenth and last Lunar Module built, dramatically lit with its legs nestled on a simulated moonscape.  Designated an historic mechanical landmark, the Lunar Module had been the first—and thus far, only—spacecraft to have ever transported human beings from earth to another planet or its moons. 

The Museum Annex Jet Gallery, which shares facilities with the Long Island Firefighter’s Museum, features a Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, the forward fuselage of a Grumman F-14A, a full F-14A Tomcat airframe, a Grumman A-6F Intruder, and the forward nose section and cockpit of an El Al Boeing 707. 

Other museum facilities include the seven-story-high, 300-seat, 76-foot-wide Leroy R. and Rose W. Grumman IMAX Theater, New York state’s largest domed venue and Long Island’s only IMAX screen; the Martian-themed Red Planet Café, which displays a 1961 Grumman “Molab” Mobile Lunar Laboratory designed for lunar surface travel, habitation, and testing; a balcony-located Aerospace Honor Roll; and the Mitchel Field Outpost gift and bookstore. 

The Cradle of Aviation Museum is a world-class facility which preserves, showcases, and interprets Long Island’s rich aerospace heritage. 

3. American Airpower Museum 

The American Airpower Museum, located at Farmingdale’s Republic Airport, oozes with history.  It is housed in an historic hangar, where historic World War II aircraft had been built, and these had then been tested at this historic airfield. 

Republic Airport itself, founded in 1928 as Fairchild Flying Field when Sherman Fairchild’s existing facility had become too small to support continued FC-2 and Model 71 production, had passed the torch to Grumman for a five-year period, from 1932 to 1937, when the Fairchild Engine and Aircraft Manufacturing Company itself had relocated to Maryland. 

Seversky, establishing its presence on the field in 1935, continued its tradition of aircraft building and testing, redesignating itself “Republic Aviation” and considerably expanding its facilities with three new hangars, a control tower, and a longer runway.  A major supplier of military designs, it churned out more than 9,000 P-47 Thunderbolts during the Second World War and 800 F-105 Thunderchiefs during the Vietnam conflict. 

After acquiring the airport in 1965, Fairchild-Hiller sold it to Farmingdale Corporation, which turned it into a public facility the following year, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), purchasing it for million in 1969, renamed it Republic Airport, lengthening existing Runway 14-32, constructing a 100-foot FAA control tower, and building a small passenger terminal. 

The 526-acre general aviation/reliever airport, whose ownership once again changed to the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) in April of 1983, exerts some 9 million of economic impact on Nassau and Suffolk Counties.  Its 546 based and transient aircraft record 190,723 annual movements, of which 93 percent encompass general aviation, six percent air taxi, and one percent military, in a full spectrum of aircraft types, including single-engine, multi-engine, piston, turboprop, pure-jet, and rotary wing, and these utilize its two runways: 5,516-foot Runway 1-19 and 6,827-foot Runway 14-32.  As New York’s third largest airport in terms of take offs and landings after JFK and La Guardia, and its largest general aviation field, it handled 1,634 enplanements, mostly due to charter flight activity, in 2005. 

Amidst this atmosphere, off of New Highway, is the American Airpower Museum.  Hangar 3, its location, had been completed in 1927, along with other structures at a 0,000 cost and had served as the incubation point of some 9,000 Republic P-47 Thunderbolts during the Second World War.  As a result, it had once been considered part of the “arsenal of democracy.”  The museum, launched after a 0,000 grant from Governor George E. Pataki and dedicated during the airport’s annual Pearl Harbor Day Commemorative Service in 2000, had been built to serve as a living tribute to Long Island’s veteran population by honoring the past with the present, and to create a regional tourist destination, along with the Cradle of Aviation Museum. 

Colonel Francis Gabreski, who scored most of his World War II victories in Republic P-47s, had been the highest ranking ace on Long Island and had initially served as the museum’s honorary commander. 

Complementing the static displays at the Cradle of Aviation Museum itself, the American Airpower Museum features the sights, sounds, and experiences of operational World War II fighters and bombers, the first time in 54 years that the New York metropolitan area can boast of such an accomplishment.  As the Williamsburg of military aviation, the facility accurately proclaims its mission as “where history flies.” 

Its varied collection of pristinely restored aircraft encompass trainers, fighters, carrier-based Navy, ocean reconnaissance, bombers, and post-World War II jet types. 

The North American T-6 Texan, for instance, first flew in 1935 and was one of the most widely used advanced fighter pilot trainers during the war. 

Of the fighters, the Curtiss-Wright P-40 Warhawk, which also first flew that year, attains 363-mph speeds and currently wears Flying Tiger livery.  No aircraft could be more at home in the American Airpower Museum’s Hangar 3, however, than the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, the very design which was assembled here in the thousands.  First taking to the skies from the runway only yards away in 1940, it was the largest, heaviest, single-engine, single-pilot piston fighter ever produced, attaining 467-mph speeds.  The P-51 Mustang, whose maximum speed had been 30 mph lower than the Thunderbolt’s, flew high-altitude escort missions of B-17 and B-24 long-range bombers, shooting down more enemy aircraft than any other World War II European theater fighter. 

Of the Navy aircraft, the Grumman TBM Avenger, a carrier-based torpedo bomber, had hunted German U-boats off the coast of Long Island, while the Vought FG-1D Corsair had been used by both the Navy and the Marines and had achieved 446-mph airspeeds. 

The Consolidated PBY Catalina, a high-wing, amphibious ocean reconnaissance aircraft flown by a crew of eight, searched for enemy submarines.  It had a 2,545-mile range, a 15,748-foot service ceiling, and a 178-mph speed. 

The museum’s twin-engined, medium-range North American B-25 Mitchell bomber, designated “Miss Hap,” had been General Hap Arnold’s personal aircraft, while the type in general had been made famous by the Doolittle Raid. 

The collection also includes several jet fighters.  The L-39 Albatross, for example, is a 570-mph Soviet trainer which first flew in 1968 and is still in service with 16 countries.  The Republic F-84 Thunderjet, one of the first pure-jet fighters, attained 620-mph speeds and served from 1948 to the Korean War.  The RF-84 Thunderflash, also designed by Republic, is a 720-mph photoreconnaissance aircraft with horizon-to-horizon photograph capability, and served between 1953 and 1971.  The Republic F-105 Thunderchief, a supersonic fighter and attack bomber, had been most extensively deployed in Vietnam in its F-105D guise, carrying more than 12,000 pounds of ordnance and achieving 1,390-mph speeds.  It served for a quarter of a century, from 1955 to 1980.  The General Dynamics F-111, a supersonic, March 1.2, variable-geometry strike aircraft, first flew in 1967, and had seen service in Vietnam, Libya, and Iraq. 

Aside from the aircraft themselves, there are nose and cockpit sections, including those of a Fairchild-Republic A-10, a Mig-21, a Beech 18/C-45, and a Douglas C-47, as well as engines, such as a General Electric J-47 and an Allison V-1710. 

World War II’s aviation story is also told by means of films, period scenes and dioramas, an extensive model and memorabilia collection, vintage vehicles, a “Ready Room,” a “Briefing Room,” a “Canteen,” a gift shop, and era-related music. 

Tours are periodically provided to the historic, five-story, 1943 control tower located in Hangar 4.  The view from the cab, amid vintage radio and radar equipment overlooking Republic airport’s two runways, provides insight into the controllers’ functions, which often included coordinating vectors from P-47s, A-10s, F-84s, and F-105s enroute to the region’s dense air base network comprised of Zahns Airport, then virtually across the road, Grumman in Bethpage, Mitchel Field in Garden City, the Floyd Bennett Field Naval Air Station in Brooklyn, and the Vought factory across Long Island Sound in Connecticut, a network emphasizing Long Island’s early nucleic role in aviation. 

Because the American Airpower Museum’s collection is predominantly operational, several flight experiences are offered. 

Its own, and signature, opportunity, aboard a Douglas C-47 Skytrain which had last been used by the Israeli Air Force, simulates the famed, D-Day allied invasion of Normandy during the early-morning hours of June 6, 1944. 

After donning paratrooper uniforms, helmets, and modified parachutes in the Ready Room, would-be jumpers move to the Briefing Room, where, amid wooden benches and period maps, the pending mission is detailed, along with the necessary regrouping maneuver behind French hedgerows after parachuting to the ground.  French francs are distributed. 

The cohesive, identically clad team now climbs aboard the twin-engined, olive-green C-47, which is configured with wooden side benches and actually partook of Normandy operations. 

During a recent summer flight, the aircraft taxied out to Republic Airport’s Runway 1 and initiated its piston engine-propelled acceleration roll, raising its tailwheel and surrendering to the flawlessly blue sky while retracting its undercarriage. 

Climbing to 1,200 feet and maintaining a 125-mph airspeed, the Douglas twin straddled Long Island’s south shore off of Jones Beach, which simulated the similar sands of Normandy.

Upon reaching the designated “drop zone,” the jumpmaster yelled, “Stand up!  Check equipment!  Hook up!” and the paratroopers connected their lines to the aircraft in preparation for imminent bailout. 

Parachute jumping procedures were drilled and the actual, 1944 event was recounted.  Regrettably, the realism necessarily had to end there. 

Nevertheless, after relanding, the sensation of the D-Day disconnection during the real jump was recreated as the temporary troopers climbed out the aft, left hatch, their Velcro-attached lines separating with gentle tares, a symbolic disconnection from machine before being gravity-induced into an exponentially accelerating tumble to French soil until the unraveling surfaces of their parachutes blossomed into arresting airfoils. 

Before removing uniforms, passengers are instructed to reach into their pockets to retrieve a card which reveals the identity of their historical double—or that paratrooper they had represented during the simulated mission.  The paratrooper, however, had made the actual jump.  And the card indicates whether he had lived or died as a result of it. 

Other than the American Airpower Museum’s own C-47 flight experience, vintage aircraft static displays and aerial opportunities are scheduled during holidays and special occasions, such as during Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, historical anniversaries, and the annual Labor Day Flight of Aces weekend, the latter created to encourage young people to write about the virtues, victories, and achievements of a World War II-age friend or relative.  The winning composition is awarded a bomber flight experience.  Aircraft have included the MATS C-121 Constellation; the Berlin Airlift “Spirit of Freedom” C-54; the B-17 Flying Fortress; the B-24 Liberator; the B-25 Mitchell; and the PT-17 Stearman, the last four of which were operated by the Collings Foundation. 

A post-museum visit dinner at the 56th Fighter Group Restaurant located on the Route 110 side of Republic Airport, although not affiliated with the museum itself, both complements and completes a World War II living history day.  Resembling a 1940 wartime English farmhouse, it further transports the diner to this era with its “Officer’s Mess” entry; rustic, timbered ceilings; fireplace-adorned dining rooms; World War II-related photographs, memorabilia, and propellers; simulated, bombed-out patio; Big Band music; and views of replica P-40, P-47, and Corsair aircraft.  The steak and seafood menu is noted for its signature beer-cheese soup. 

The American Airpower Museum is a living aviation time portal to World War II and Long Island’s invaluable contribution to its victory of it.  A post-museum dinner at the 56th Fighter Group Restaurant provides the culinary cap to it. 

4. Bayport Aerodrome Living Aviation Museum 

The Bayport Aerodrome Living Aviation Museum, created by the Bayport Aerodrome Society to preserve and present early-20th century aviation at a representative turf airport, is a 24-hangar complex of privately owned antique and experimental aircraft located at Bayport Aerodrome. 

The aerodrome, three miles southeast of Long Island MacArthur Airport, is a nontowered field with a single, 150-foot-wide by 2,740-foot-long grass/turf runway (18-36) and 45 based single-engine aircraft.  Of its average 28 daily movements, 98 percent are local, with the remainder transient.  Designated Davis Field from 1910 to 1952, it had then been renamed Edwards Airport until 1977, whereafter it had been acquired by the Town of Islip.  On January 22, 2008, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a feat proudly proclaimed by its plaque, which reads: “Bayport Aerodrome.  Only L.I. public airport w/ grass runways.  National Historic status 2008.” 

Formed in 1972 for the very purpose of preserving such an era, the Bayport Aerodrome Society conducts complementary tours on weekends between June and September of its operational aircraft collection, which includes Piper Cubs, Waco biplanes, N2S Stearmans, Fleet Model 16Bs, Byrds, and PT-22s.  There is also a small museum. 

5. Grand Old Airshow 

The Grand Old Airshow, first held in 2006 at Brookhaven’s Calabro Airport, was created to transport spectators to earlier, biplane and World War II eras and showcase Long Island aviation. 

Calabro Airport itself is a 600-acre, nontowered, municipal field which was constructed during the Second World War to provide logistical support for the Army Air Corps, but was acquired by the Town of Brookhaven in 1961, whose Division of General Aviation now operates it.  The field, sporting two runways—4,200-foot Runway 6-24 and 4,224-foot Runway 15-33—is home to three fixed-base operators which offer tie-down pads, T-hangars, conventional hangars, flight instruction, and refueling, as well as Eastern Suffolk Boces, the Dowling College School of Aviation, the Long Island Soaring Association, and Island Aerial Air.  There is a small terminal with a luncheonette.  Of its 217 based aircraft, some 92 percent encompass single-engine types, and it averages 370 daily, or 135,100 yearly, movements. 

The airshow entices the visitor by urging him to “join us this year as we go back in time to celebrate Long Island’s Golden Age of Aviation,” a time when “biplanes graced the skies decades ago.”  It continues by offering the experience of “bygone days of aviation, as World War I dogfights, open-cockpit biplanes, World War II fighters, and, of course, the famous Geico Skytypers, soar through Long Island’s blue skies.” 

Previous shows have featured antique vehicles and static aircraft displays, the latter encompassing TBM Avengers, Fokker Dr-1s, Nieuports, and Messerschmidt Me-109s, while aerial stunts have included comedy maneuvers performed in Piper J-3 Cubs by “randomly chosen” audience member Carl Spackle; Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome-borrowed Delsey Dives and balloon bursts targeted by Great Lakes Speedsters, Fleet 16Bs, and PT-17 Stearmans; speed races between runway-bound motorcycles and airborne, low-passing PT-17s; aerobatics by SF-260s; and skywriting by Sukhoi 29s. 

A Sikorsky UH-34D Sea Horse Marine helicopter, used for combat rescue in Vietnam, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and by NASA during the Project Mercury astronaut recovery program, demonstrated search-and-rescue procedures.

Both Long Island aviation and formation flying are well represented.  Past shows have featured Byrd, N3N, Fleet Model 16B, and N2S Stearman aircraft from the Bayport Aerodrome Society; P-40 Warhawks and P-51 Mustangs from Warbirds over Long Island; F4U Corsairs from the American Airpower Museum; and North American SNJ-2s from the Republic Airport-based Geico Skytypers. 

Vintage vehicle and aircraft rides are available.  Spectators bring their own lawn chairs and line them up next to the active runway.  There is period dress and speeches are given by Tuskegee Airmen.  Concession trucks sell everything from hot dogs to ice cream and souvenirs and numerous aviation-related schools and associations man booths. 

The Grand Old Airshow, held in the fall, is a single-day, single-visit, outdoor glimpse toward the sky where Long Island’s multi-faceted aviation history was written and where it is now recreated. 

6. Grumman Memorial Park 

Grumman Memorial Park, located on a one-acre site of the former Grumman Aerospace Flight Test Facility in Calverton only one thousand feet from one of its runways, is, according to its self-description, “a volunteer effort paying tribute to the incredible advances in aviation and space flight that took place on Long Island thanks to the teamwork of the employees of the Grumman Corporation.  This dedicated band of people took aviation from the fight deck of a US Navy aircraft carrier to man’s first steps on the moon.” 

Leroy Randle Grumman, the man behind this company’s name, had been born on January 4, 1895 and established the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation 35 years later, according to the park’s plaque “in a small garage in Baldwin, Long Island, New York.  There and later in Valley Stream, Farmingdale, Bethpage, Calverton, and locations throughout the country, the company designed and produced innovative aircraft and spacecraft for both the military forces of the United States and the civilian market.”  Incorporated in all these designs had been the company’s straightforward philosophy of “keep it simple…build it strong….make it work.” 

Phase One of the park, completed on October 28, 2000, had been dedicated to “preserving the legacy of the Grumman Corporation (and) to the men and women who designed, built, and flew the aircraft and spacecraft that soared into the heavens and beyond.” 

Centerpiece, mounted on a pedestal in a climbing profile, is an F-14A Tomcat.  Powered by two 20,900 thrust-pound, afterburner-equipped Pratt and Whitney TF30-P-414A turbofans, the swing-wing, variable-geometry fighter, whose sweepback varies from 20 degrees in the forward to 68 degrees in the aft position, was the 331st such Tomcat airframe to roll off the nearby Calverton assembly line and first flew from the almost arm’s reach runway on July 6, 1979.  Delivered two months later to the US Navy’s VF-101 Fighter Squadron in Oceana, Virginia, it carried 2,385 gallons of fuel, including that accommodated in two, 267-gallon external tanks, and had a 1,191-mile nonstop range.  The Mach 2 aircraft had provided 25 years of service before being decommissioned, and had been one of 712 F-14s to have been produced between 1970 and 1992.

Surrounded by inscribed bricks, which comprise the “Walk of Honor,” the display has several interactive features, including a visitor-controlled audible recording of its story, sounds of an afterburner take off, and wing and tail light activation. 

The second aircraft on display, part of the park’s Phase Two expansion, is the Grumman A-6E Intruder located on the other side of the small parking lot.  Tracing its origins to its initial version, the A2F-1 which had first flown in 1960, it was one of 693 all-weather attack aircraft which were powered by two Pratt and Whitney J-52 P-8B turbojets and had maximum take off weights of 58,600 pounds.  Operating at 42,400-foot ceilings, the 648-mph aircraft could deliver eight 500-pound bombs with pinpoint accuracy, and it could carry an entire arsenal of weapons, striking targets more than 500 miles from the aircraft carrier on which it had been based without the need for refueling.  Production ceased in 1997. 

Aside from the two aircraft themselves, displays include the original Calverton Plant 7 flagpole, a Bethpage Plant 14 guard booth, and a Bethpage runway section, along with its side light, from which every Grumman F6F Hellcat had taken off. 

Also viewable is a Hughes AIM-54A Phoenix long-range air-to-air missile, an integral part of the F-14 Tomcat AWG-9 Weapon System.  Featuring a 13-foot length and three-foot wingspan, the device had a 1,021-pound gross weight, of which its 132-pound warhead had been propelled by a solid rocket motor.  Traveling at a speed of Mach 5, it had a 96-mile range.  The F-14 could carry up to six such Phoenix missiles. 

Grumman Memorial Park, a work-in-progress whose nine additional acres will eventually encompass a visitor center and other aircraft displays, offers an initial glimpse into Grumman’s superior military designs only yards from the factory which had hatched them. 

7. Conclusion 

Long Island’s six-decade aerial journey, which had begun on its Hempstead Plains in 1909 when Glenn Curtiss had first taken off in the Golden Flyer biplane and ended when the Lunar Module had first landed on the moon’s Sea of Tranquility in 1969, is expertly recounted by its world-class aviation sights.

Nurturing the Future Vocalists: Children Singing Classes in JRP Long Island

Category : Region I

Nurturing the Future Vocalists: Children Singing Classes in JRP Long Island

Located in Long Island, New York, John Robert Powers Long Island provides modeling, singing and acting classes for children. The vision of JRP Long Island is to help nurture the talents of individuals and help them achieve their goals in the performance industry. Found by the actor John Robert Powers in the early 1990s, JRP provides not only training classes for clients, but also auditions for successful students to enter the entertainment industry.

Currently, John Robert Powers Long Island is offering singing classes for children. With a group of professional and experienced instructors, JRP will be able to provide a quality education that will help students develop a lifelong interest in singing or even prepare them for a professional career in performance. These singing classes are structured but at the same time they are a great fun for children who love to sing.

Attending singing classes will not only help children develop a hobby, it will also train them into focused and devoted individuals in the future as being a good singer requires constant and dedicated practice. This will teach the children not to easily give up on something they enjoy while exploring what they can achieve with their natural voice. Most children enjoy going to singing classes because it allows them to express themselves through music. An appreciation of music is almost innate in all children. Therefore, singing lessons will offer them an opportunity to not only passively enjoy, but actively engaged in the joy of music.

In middle school and high school, students who have taken professional singing classes will be given more opportunities to participate in large-scale productions, including dramas and musicals. Such performance credentials will then help them when it comes to college application. Most university administrators would love to see a developed professional skill on a candidate’s resume. For exceptional singers, they may even be recruited by the university because of what they can offer to the university’s choir.

Related Long Island University Articles

New York’s Long Island

Category : Region I

New York’s Long Island

When holidaying in New York, many people think about going to the centre of town to see some of the many delights they’ve seen in films and on television. To the south east of the state, however, lies a number of islands with the predominant one being Long Island – so named because of its narrow but elongated shape.

Heading east into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island is technically part of four different counties – Kings County, Queens County, Nassau and Suffolk. The first two counties are part of New York City while the other two are not, but are still part of New York state.

Long Island consists mainly of residential housing and neighbourhoods, giving it a suburban feel. A small portion of the island is, however, given over to stately homes as it is seen as an isolated location for some people with affluence. The richest part of the island is known as Three Ponds and can be found in the Bridgehampton area. The 60 acre area is old farmland that has been converted into tennis courts, swimming pools and a golf course, among other luxury entertainment opportunities.

Businessmen congregate in the area and as such the largest industrial estate on America’s east coast – the Happauge Industrial Park – is found on Long Island. More than 55,000 people work at Happauge for around 1300 different firms.

The key industry in Happauge is aviation and this has been the case for several decades. Grumman Aircraft made Long Island’s Bethpage their home and they have been headquartered there ever since. The area also has a prominent scientific base as Brookhaven National Laboratory and Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory are both situated here, as well as Stony Brook University.

Not everything in Long Island is technology based as agriculture still plays an important part in the island’s economy. Much of this activity is limited to the east side of the island because of the number of houses towards the west and centre. Locals and temporary residents of New York City hotels often make the trip to the east side during the warmer months to visit some of the pick-it-yourself farms and orchards where produce such as peaches, apples and pumpkins can be harvested by visitors for a small free.

Whether you stay in Long Island on your trip or simply visit for the day, it gives a vibrant contrast to the sights and feel of Manhattan and will give you experiences and photos of your New York trip that many other travellers to New York will have missed out on.